How to install windows 7 without losing HP Recovery partition

[Arunn]

Hi

I want to install windows 7 ultimate x64 bit version on my Laptop. currently i have windows home basic version on my laptop with one C drive and one HP Recovery partition as a D drive. If i install ultimate, will i get recovery partition drive??

 

[DMHolt57]

Your recovery partition will remain with Home basic...

 

[gregrocker]

The only way to know for sure is to intall Ultimate to C, then attempt to run Recovery to find out. Follow the steps in the Perfect Reinstall link in my signature below except to choose C and leave other partitions intact.

Make your Recovery Disks so you have a backup. HP Backup and Recovery Manager

You can also save a Win7 backup image of the entire HD both before and after you install Ultimate so you have a path back if Recovery does run from its partition, and then if you decide you want to fall back to your previous install as it was set up and running for you. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Do you not have HP Tools and System Reserved partitions? Post up a screenshot if you want, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu, so we can advise you better.

Extract HP 3rd Party Software from RecovCD
HP Recov DIsks - make another set
Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk - HP technical support

 

[alphanumeric]

I'm no expert on this but I'm thinking if you erase your current boot sector you may kill the option to use the recovery utility during boot up. The recovery partition will still be there but the function keys used to access during boot up may not work. I really don't know enough about how that works to say for sure though. I'd burn your recovery disk set if you haven't already.